Mary E. Wood papers

Mary Wood was born in 1916 in Washington Courthouse, Ohio to Mr. Harry and Mrs. Janette Wood. She graduated Washington High School in 1934. She received her bachelors’ degree from Denison University in 1938 and her masters’ degree from Texas Woman’s University in 1945. She taught Spanish, English, and Science at Washington High School from 1938-1945. She was a graduate assistant of Spanish at Texas Woman’s University in 1945. In 1945 she came to Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana to be an Associate Professor French and Spanish at Burris Laboratory School. She was very involved with students at Burris and led the Future Teachers of America and the French and Spanish Clubs. She established two new Humanities classes and a class called “Future Dimensions”. She retired from Burris in 1979 after 34 years there.

She was a member of many clubs including: Delta Kappa Gamma, where she was president of the Beta Mu Chapter from 1966-1968, National League of American Pen Women, Friends of The Alexander M. Bracken Library, American Baptist Women of First Baptist Church, Central States Modern Language Association, and The American Association of Teachers. She published her book, French Imprint on the Heart of America: Historical vignettes of 110 French-related localities in Indiana and the Ohio Valley. The book had two printings, one in 1976 and one in 1977. She also traveled extensively and she was a very involved member of the First Baptist Church of Muncie. She played organ, piano, and violin. She died on October 15, 2006 at the age of 90.

Mary became a caregiver for Dudley Culver in his later years. He was born on January 22, 1911 to Dr. Dudley and Gladys Culver. He was raised in his early years in Fort Wayne and Evansville, Indiana. He eventually moved to Muncie, Indiana. As a boy he attended Devereux and Howe Military Schools. He owned a real estate company in Muncie and ran for Justice of the Peace. He died on March 20, 1999 at the age of 88.